James Kwantes is an editor and mining reporter from Vancouver, Canada. He spent the last decade with Vancouver Sun, covering investing, mining and other business topics. James is the founder of the World of Mining blog and is the editor of Resource Opportunities, a subscriber supported investment newsletter covering compelling early stage mining companies.

It was bottom’s up at a market bottom — hopefully — for the latest version of “At The Bar” featuring lively conversation and commentary on mining as it relates to investing. The popular feature saw mining personalities belly up after the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference in January. Brent Cook and Mickey Fulp brought the grizzled… Continue Reading

A low-profile junior company called Mines Management (MGT-T) recently announced approval for its Montana silver-copper mine project from the U.S. Forest Service and Montana environmental dept. How they released the news hints at why they remain low-profile: it’s major material news, green-lighting a deposit that contains an estimated 230 million ounces of silver and more… Continue Reading

There were a few insider transactions of note from the overnight SEDI filings. And while it’s usually insider buys that catch my eye, today it was an insider sell. Renaissance Oil (ROE-V) Doug Casey and Marin Katusa‘s Casey Capital Strategies sold off a large portion of their stake in Ian Telfer’s Renaissance Oil in December… Continue Reading

As the prices for nickel and oil plunged in 2015, so did Sherritt International’s prospects of emerging on the other side of the commodity oversupply abyss. Sherritt’s main businesses are nickel and oil production in Cuba; nickel accounts for 72% of revenue. In 2015, nickel was down 40% and the price for a barrel of… Continue Reading

Agnico Eagle CEO Sean Boyd sounded relaxed on the company’s Thursday conference call announcing Q4 results. But if the mining boss was jumping for joy on the inside, it would be hard to blame him. The stars seem to be aligning for Agnico Eagle (AEM-T), which produces two-thirds of its gold from mines in northern… Continue Reading

It was mushrooms that brought Shawn Ryan to the Yukon, but gold that secured his fortune and reputation. Specifically, soil sampling leading to the discovery of gold, millions of ounces of it. His Yukon exploits also brought him a measure of fame — the prospector appeared on the cover of the New York Times Magazine… Continue Reading

Platinum Group Metals reached a milestone this morning with news that its Maseve mine (formerly called WBJV Project 1) in South Africa produced its first concentrate for delivery. News of hot commissioning comes as the platinum price continues to bump along at about US$940 an ounce, levels visited during the height of the 2008 financial… Continue Reading

Redemption. Along with diamonds, it’s what North Arrow Minerals will be looking for in two active exploration programs to kick off 2016. The diamond explorer just kicked off a 2,500-metre, $1.69-million drill program at Pikoo, its Saskatchewan diamond discovery, that will further delineate diamond-bearing kimberlites and test new targets. Joint-venture partner Stornoway Diamond (20%) has… Continue Reading

It’s fair to say Tintina Resources (TAU-V) and its Black Butte copper project in Montana makes the grade. The Johnny Lee deposit at Black Butte hosts 11.6 million tonnes at 3.6% copper, including a lower zone above 6% copper. “These are amazingly high grades, it’s very rare to see these in mineable quantities in nature,”… Continue Reading

Morien Resources has a market capitalization under $14 million but doesn’t act much like a junior resource company. Instead of issuing shares to raise money for projects, the cash-rich royalty firm is buying back stock as its partners build out the assets. Morien owns royalties on the Donkin coal mine in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia,… Continue Reading

Mining veteran Bruce McLeod took over as CEO of Sabina Gold & Silver last Feb. 15 and has steered the company through an eventful and successful year. Sabina published two Feasibility Studies showing strong economics for the company’s rich Back River gold project in Nunavut, including a low-capex option that would focus on high-grade open… Continue Reading

There were some insider buys of note in last night’s SEDI filings, including Osisko founder Robert Wares picking up some AZ Mining (he’s a director there) and a rather large bet on B2Gold by one of its directors. AZ Mining (AZ-T) Geologist Robert Wares, an AZ Mining director, bought 100,000 shares at 37 cents on… Continue Reading

Tiny Aston Bay Holdings (BAY-V), a junior with a copper-zinc project in Nunavut, seized the market’s attention today by announcing a preliminary joint-venture deal with the world’s largest mining company. According to the exclusive letter of intent, BHP Billiton would pay a minimum of $40 million in exploration expenditures over 9 years – including $2.5… Continue Reading

Redemption. Along with diamonds, it’s what North Arrow Minerals is looking for after a disappointing 2015 that saw a lower-than-expected valuation on a coloured diamond package from Qilalugaq hammer the share price. It’s also the subject of the latest news out of the exploration company, which has sold a package of royalties on its Redemption… Continue Reading